Flexible Nozzle for Even Insulation Chamber Filling
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blowing machines for insulation materials, such as wood fiber, cellulose, and mineral fiber, often result in uneven filling, particularly in corners, leading to material hills that can cause structural issues and potential bursting of the insulation chamber.
Innovation Solution
A device with a flexible nozzle and cover element designed to be air-permeable, allowing for even distribution of insulation material, including a protective hood and movement mechanisms for precise positioning, which prevents material hills and ensures complete filling, especially in corner areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a rigid nozzle is used for blowing insulation material, then the device structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the insulation material is not evenly filled and corners are insufficiently filled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a flexible nozzle made of elastomeric material that can deform to conform to the insulation chamber geometry. The flexible nozzle includes an inner tube and outer tube with flexible walls that allow the nozzle to adapt to corners and irregular surfaces, ensuring even distribution of insulation material throughout the chamber including corner areas.
2Manufacturing precision
If the nozzle is positioned close to the insulation chamber walls to fill corners, then corner filling is improved, but material hills form on the chamber surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a movable and flexible nozzle system that can dynamically adjust its position and shape during operation. The nozzle is connected to a positioning mechanism that allows it to move along the chamber surface, and its flexible walls enable it to conform to corners without creating localized overfilling, thus preventing material hills while ensuring complete corner coverage.
3Manufacturing precision
If the nozzle is made flexible to adapt to chamber geometry, then filling uniformity is improved, but the nozzle requires stabilization under internal pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes pneumatic pressure from the insulation material flow itself to stabilize the flexible nozzle during operation. The internal pressure of the conveyed insulation material causes the flexible nozzle walls to expand and assume a stable, defined shape, ensuring consistent material distribution while maintaining the nozzle's adaptability to chamber geometry.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The flexible nozzle design prevents material from getting stuck and ensures even filling, reducing the risk of structural damage and allowing for efficient filling of insulation chambers, including corners, by deforming to fit the chamber geometry and stabilizing under internal pressure.
Implementation Method 1
the nozzle is flexible... deforming to fit the chamber geometry and stabilizing under internal pressure
Implementation Method 2
The cover element can be permeable to air... allow the blown-in air to escape through the air-permeable cover element, while at the same time retaining insulation particles
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Device (1) for blowing insulating material, in particular wood fiber, cellulose and/or mineral fiber insulating material, into an insulating material chamber (10) open at least on one side, comprising a cover element (2) for covering at least a part of the insulating material chamber (10) and at least one nozzle (3) for blowing in the insulating material, wherein the nozzle (3) is provided on a side of the cover element (2) which, during operation, faces a cavity of the insulating material chamber (10) to be filled and wherein the nozzle (3) projects beyond this side of the cover element (2), characterized in that the nozzle (3) is flexible.